Kudu Hunting in South Africa

Kudu Trophy Hunting is readily available in South Africa. Indigenous to the Eastern Cape, South Africa, and Kudu occur in significant numbers. There are no seasonal restrictions on kudu in designated conservancies in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Nick Bowker Hunting offers kudu trophies year-round.

We offer genuine free-range kudu hunting. Kudu is always one of the first animals on any hunter’s list. A genuinely graceful and beautiful trophy for any African hunting safari.

Shot placement should be on the bottom third of the shoulder for Kudu hunting
Shot placement for Kudu hunting

Table of Contents

Kudu Hunting Cost

The average cost of a standalone trophy is $1800. South African hunting packages often include a Kudu Trophy.

All-Inclusive $4500 Starter Kudu Hunt Package for seven trophies and eight days hunting. (Inclusive of a Kudu Trophy)

Included in the Kudu hunting safaris is a licensed hunting guide. As well as a hunting license and all permits.

Trophy shot with Nick Bowker.
Monster Eastern Cape Kudu bull
Kudu hunting in South Africa
Kudu trophy shoulder mounts hunted in Africa.

The Kudu in Pictures

How kudu deal with threats during the stalk.
Kudu local names in African languages.
Some of the best kudu hunting methods include stalking their feeding areas early in the morning.
Kudu predators include the big cats.
Kudu cow and calf.
Kudu spiral horn development over the life time of the kudu.
Growth chart for Kudu bulls over the life span of the kudu.
Social structure of kudu herds
Hunting the Eastern Cape Kudu
Kudu distribution in South Africa.

Interesting Facts About Kudu

African Kudu Hunting with Nick Bowker.
  • The kudu or ‘koodoo’ is the Khoisan name given to this antelope.
  • Kudu forms part of the spiral horn family, including eland, nyala, and bushbuck.
  • The kudu can jump six-foot-high fences from a standing position, and when fleeing from danger, they can clear obstacles as high as 10 feet.
  • When two kudu bulls are equally matched, a fight may ensue.
  • Fights would take the form of lunging, horn clashes, and wrestling with locked horns, and the latter may result in the death of both animals when their horns become locked together in the battle.
  • There is twice as many adult female kudu than there are males.
  • This is due to greater predation of the bulls and deaths at the end of the breeding season caused by exhaustion, malnutrition, and injury.
Kudu Safari hunt with Nick Bowker.
Kudu hunting safari style in Africa with Nick Bowker
  • If a kudu is frightened by a predator or during kudu hunting, breaking cover, it will run and then turn to see the threat and freeze, allowing its camouflage to take effect.
  • Although kudu bulls become sexually mature at three years old, they can’t compete with the older males to access the females until they are 6 to 8 years old.
  • Kudu is notoriously alert and hard to approach and can point ears individually in different directions to help detect threats that may be nearby.
  • Some plants, notably acacias, will increase the amount of bitter-tasting tannin in their leaves within 15 minutes of when animals browse them, resulting in kudu moving on to the next plant after only a short time.
  • Kudu gives a hoarse alarm bark when they flee.
  • The Eastern Cape Kudu is considered a subspecies of the Greater Kudu.
Kudu safari hunting in South Africa for big eastern cape kudu.

Difference Between Male and Female

The difference between a male and female kudu is that the female does not have horns and is smaller and lighter than the male, with very prominent ears. Also, they have no beard or nose markings.

Males drinking at a waterhole during the dry season.
Kudu Males or Kudu Bulls drinking at a waterhole during the dry season
Females drinking at a waterhole during the dry season. Females do not have horns.
Kudu females or cows drinking at a water hole

About the Kudu

Hunting big kudu in the Eastern Cape safari style.

Like many other antelope, male Kudu can be found in bachelor groups, but they are more likely to be solitary.

Wounded bulls, on infrequent occasions, have been known to charge the attacker. They hit the attacker with their sturdy horn base rather than stabbing it.

Wounded Kudu can keep running for many miles without stopping or resting.

Kudu bulls are much larger than females.

The bulls also have large manes running along the underside of their necks. The long spiral horns, were they straightened, would reach an average length of 45 inches. 

Hunting big Eastern Cape kudu safari style.
African Hunting Packages

The Kudu is a browser and feeds on various leaves of trees and shrubs indigenous to South Africa.

They also seasonal feeders and feed on various fruits, pods, and creepers during different seasons and succulents such as spekboom or bacon trees and aloes. 

New-born calves aged 4-6 weeks old are hidden away and nursed by their mothers, who visit them for nursing.

Kudu usually is active in the morning and late afternoon. In developed habitats or under pressure from hunting, Kudu has evolved to become nocturnal to avoid humans.

Kudu safari style hunt with Nick Bowker.

Kudu Hunting in the Eastern Cape

Vital organs showing the position of the heart and lungs.
Kudu vital organs for shot placement.

Shot placement must be in the bottom third of the animal directly above the front shoulder. This will ensure a heart or lung shot. Avoid head and neck shots which are high-risk.

All-inclusive South African Safari Packages

Your Eastern Cape kudu bull trophy should have an average shoulder height of around 54 inches, weigh about 340 pounds, and have a Horn Length of approximately 43 – 47 inches.

The minimum score under Safari Club International for an Eastern Cape kudu is 98. Add the length of each horn and the circumference of the bases to get your SCI score.

The Eastern Cape Kudu has smaller horns than their cousin, the Southern Greater Kudu.

The minimum SCI score for a Southern Greater Kudu is 121.

Kudu is always one of the first animals on any hunter’s list. A genuinely graceful and beautiful trophy hunted safari style.

Bulls can be tough to hunt throughout the year. Be prepared for long spot and stalk hunting and plenty of failed stalks.

South African Kudu safari with Nick Bowker.
Shot in the Eastern Cape South Africa

Kudu have fantastic eyesight, and the nickname “Grey Ghost” is for a good reason; a kudu can vanish into thin air.

It’s rare for a hunter to shoot a kudu on the first stalk.

You may have to take a more extended shot to get your trophy kudu.

Kudu is indigenous to the Eastern Cape, South Africa, and occurs in significant numbers.

The Kudu tends to browse in the early morning and late afternoon, usually resting during the day’s heat.

Like many antelope species, these majestic animals form family groups of approximately ten individuals, primarily cows, and calves, as well as young bulls.

Mature bulls only join the herd during the mating season. Kudu hunting often involves stalking a lone bull.

Nick Bowker

Trophy Judgement and Rifle Calibre

Kudu Hunting Rifle Calibre

Kudu trophy. The Eastern Cape Kudu has smaller horns than, the Greater Kudu.

Hunting kudu with less than 7mm is not recommended.

For those hunters who do not wish to go through the red tape of bringing a rifle into South Africa, Nick Bowker Hunting has a Sako carbon light 300 Winchester Magnum fitted with a suppressor.

Mounted on the rifle is a Swarovski DS with a built-in rangefinder.

We have hand-loaded Hornady ELD-X 200-grain ammunition. The rifle, including ammunition, is available as part of all hunting packages free of charge.

As with most African animals, shot placement should always be in the bottom third of the shoulder. 

Kudu hunting is in the early mornings and late evenings and spotted from an elevated vantage point in the thick brush and then stalked. Kudu has excellent eyesight, and stalks can be challenging. Alternatively, hunters use ambush techniques at watering holes or as they move back to cover from feeding.

Kudu hunting safari style with Nick Bowker in Africa.
Africa Kudu hunting with Nick Bowker.

Kudu Hunting Trophy Judgement

Big kudu hunting with Nick Bowker in the Eastern Cape.

Southern Greater Kudu is available in fenced areas in the Eastern Cape but costs substantially more.

Eastern Cape Kudu boasts a much darker coat than its cousin, the Southern Greater Kudu, and at times the males will carry an imposing, impressive beard running down the front of the neck.

From late March to June or even July, bulls will lose the fear of open country and travel great distances searching for females during the rut.

Judging the trophy quality of kudu bulls can be very difficult at times.

Always ensure the shapes of the horns are wide and symmetrical with white tips.

Consider the depth of the curls, as this is where the real hidden length lies.

Any mature bull is an impressive trophy and the pride of many kudu hunters worldwide who have visited southern Africa.

Africa hunting kudu with Nick Bowker.
Africa kudu hunting with Nick Bowker.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to hunt a Kudu?

The trophy fee as a standalone Kudu hunt is between $1500 to $2500, depending on the size of the Kudu trophy. Daily rates vary between $250 and $500 per day.

Included in the Kudu trophy fee is a licensed guide. As well as a hunting license and all permits.

A Kudu trophy is often included in a plains game package. Package prices vary from $3000 to $10,000, depending on location and trophies. Packages include 5 – 7 trophy animals and accommodation, meals, and daily rates.

How to hunt a Kudu?

Kudu hunting is in the early mornings and late evenings and spotted from an elevated vantage point in the thick brush and then stalked. Kudu has excellent eyesight, and stalks can be challenging. Alternatively, hunters use ambush techniques at watering holes or as they move back to cover from feeding.

Where do you shoot a Kudu?

Shot placement must be in the bottom third of the animal directly above the front shoulder. This will ensure a heart or lung shot. Avoid head and neck shots which are high-risk.

What is a trophy Kudu?

Eastern Cape kudu trophies have a Horn Length of approximately 43 – 47 inches. The Eastern Cape Kudu has smaller horns than the Southern Greater Kudu, which should have a Horn Length of around 50 inches or more.

The minimum qualification score under Safari Club International for an Eastern Cape kudu is 98, and for the Southern Greater Kudu, 121. Add the length of each horn and the circumference of the bases to get your SCI score.

Hunting big Eastern Cape Kudu.

Seasonal Restrictions

When can you hunt Kudu in South Africa?

There are no seasonal restrictions on kudu hunting in designated conservancies in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

How do you judge a Kudu trophy?

Always ensure the shapes of the horns are wide and symmetrical with white tips. Consider the depth of the curls as this is where the real hidden length lies.

References:

Smithers, RHN, 1983. The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion, 1st edition. University of Pretoria, CTP

Focus on the Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), Deon Furstenburg, GEO WILD Consult (Pty) Ltd.

Smithers RHN – The Mammals of the Southern African Subregion

Seaworld – Animal Facts

Safari bookings – Greater Kudu Facts

African Skye Hunting – Africa Destinations

African Wildlife Foundation – Wildlife Conservation Kudu

Kruger National Park – The Kudu